1 / 24

Mitsutsune Yamaguchi University of Tokyo

COP 17 and Beyond: Japan-UK and the Global Action to Addressing Climate Change, November 11, 2011. In search of effective and feasible International Framework A Balanced Approach (vertically and horizontally). Mitsutsune Yamaguchi University of Tokyo. Today’s presentation. Are we on track?

gonzalezcarl
Download Presentation

Mitsutsune Yamaguchi University of Tokyo

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. COP 17 and Beyond: Japan-UK and the Global Action to Addressing Climate Change, November 11, 2011 In search of effective and feasible International FrameworkA Balanced Approach(vertically and horizontally) Mitsutsune Yamaguchi University of Tokyo

  2. Today’s presentation • Are we on track? • Scale of challenges 3) Discussions of 2 degree targets from various aspects (vertical balance) 4) Efficient allocation of scarce resources (horizontal balance) 5) In search of effective and feasible international framework ６）ALPS Project

  3. Drastic Change of portionof GHG Emissions (by country/region) 3 Annex I exc. US: 22% Annex I exc. US: 18% Annex I: 58% Annex I exc. US: 27% Source: RITE

  4. Are we on track? • We are not on track to attain 2 degree target (steps in the right direction but the door to 2 ℃ is closing (IEA WEO 2011) • Situation is becoming worse. This illustrates the scale of challenges we are faced with. • What should and can we do?

  5. What does 2 degree target mean? 450ppmCO2e and 50% reductions Source: IPCC/AR4 Synthesis Report Maximum emissions in 2050 to achieve 2 degree target is 50% of that in 2000. Global emissions must peak at the latest by 2015

  6. Scale of challenges Fossil & Industrial CO2 Emissions by various models (Reference Case) Units GtCO2/yr Source: ENERGY MODELING FORUM (2011) http://emf.stanford.edu/events/emf_briefing_on_climate_policy_scenarios_us_domestic_and_international_policy_architectures RCP3PD: 2050 emissions are 11.7 Gt/CO2

  7. Paradigm Shift (international negotiation) Why top down approach has failed at Copenhagen • Lack of cool-headed discussion (religion) • International community was not really convinced at 2 degree target (Vertical balance --- focusing on climate change) • Different priorities by countries (Horizontal balance --- in relation to other urgent issues) Recent economic/budgetary/financial crisis and CC

  8. Ultimate objective of response measuresVertical Balance • Article 2 Stabilization at the level not dangerous Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame sufficient to ---enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner • IPCC AR4 WG3 Ch.1 -- the balancing of the risks of climate change --- against the risk of response measures that may threaten economic sustainability. → Sustainable Economic Growth

  9. Is 2 degree increase dangerous? • temperature increase 2-3 ℃→ declines in net benefits or increases in net costs (above 1990 levels) （IPCCAR4 ） • Corresponds to 2.6 to 3.6 ℃ since pre-industrialization • No adaptation considered Unrealistic • Why 2 degree? (1.4 ℃) Temperature increase since 1990, Source: IPCC /AR4/Synthesis

  10. Feasibility of 2 degree targetHalving global emissions 2050/2000 Source; Dr. K. Akimoto, RITE Can developing countries reduce per capita emissions 58% from 2.6t (2008) to 1.1t (2050) in case that developed countries reduce 80% reduction?

  11. Can we reduce 50% by 2050? • 80% reduction of per capita emissions for developed countries from 11.0 t to 2.2 t CO2 by 2050. Still • 58% reduction of per capita emissions for developing countries from 2.6 t to 1.1 t CO2 by 2050 • China’s per capita emissions in 2008 is 5 t CO2.

  12. Technology is the key (kaya identity) Feasibility of 50% reductions (2050/2000) GlobalBAU GDP in 2050 will be $113 Trillion. 75.5% reduction corresponds to $27.7 trillion, that is 30% less that that in 2009. The highest technology improvement ratio in the past 38 years was 2.9% in 1981 (Average 1.1%, 2000-2008 0.1%) BAU GDP growth ratio up to 2050 is 2.56%/yr. (RITE estimate based on UN World Development Indicator and UN World Population Prospects 2008). 12 12 12

  13. Cost Benefit Perspective • W. Nordhaus: A question of Balance 2008 BAU: 3.1 degree in 2100 (relative o 1990) Optimal: 2.6 degree increase in 2100 (PRTP 1.5%) Carbon Price $25/tCO2 in 2050 and $55 in 2100 1.5 degree case: benefit 2.4 times, cost 12.5 times Need to consider Weitzman’s fat tail issue • Stern Review 2006 550ppmCO2e stabilization: Benefit(20% of GDP>Cost (1% of GDP) 450ppmCO2e: very difficult and costly 550ppmCO2e stabilization may lead to 3 degree increase Even Stern Review did not justify 2 degree target What if PRTP is 1.5% rather than 0.1%

  14. 2 degree and uncertainty M. Meinshausen, “What Does 2°C Target Mean for Greenhouse Gas Concentrations? A Brief Analysis Based on Multi-Gas Emission Pathways and Several Climate Sensitivity Estimates,” H-J. Schellnhuber ed., Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change, Chapter 28

  15. 2 degree target and science • Defining what is dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system and, consequently, the limits to be set for policy purposes are complex tasks that can only be partially based on science, as such definitions inherently involve normative judegments. (IPCC AR4/WG3 Chapter 1) • It (2 degree target) bears no relationship to emission controls that most governments will actually adopt. And it isn’t based on much science either. (Victor, D. G. 2011, Global Warming Gridlock)

  16. 2010 Blue Planet Prize Commemorative Lectureby Robert Watson (former IPCC chair)October 27, 2010, Tokyo -- it (2 degree target) must be recognized to be a stretch target and, unless political will changes drastically in the near future, it will not be met. Therefore, we should be prepared to adapt to global temperature changes of 4-5°C. • Robert Watson’s another Lecture at the National Institute for Environmental Studies, October 28, 2010, Tsukuba, Japan --- But I will argue that we are going to be lucky to stabilize at 4. And the reason is that to stabilize at 2, you only have a 50-50 chance of stabilizing at 2 or 400 ppm of carbon dioxide equivalent. --- But I honestly don’t believe we are going to stabilize at 400 ppm, I think we are going to stabilize at 550-650.--- The USA is not going to stabilize its emissions before 2020, China probably won’t until 2030 ---

  17. Need to reconsider 2 degree target • One idea is to put is on the shelf or make it as aspirational goal and not calculate insufficiency of efforts against the goal. • Forcing 2 degree target with legally binding treaty may bear the risk of the reaching no agreement or collapse of the treaty. • Geo-engineering as an insurance

  18. Balance between global urgent mattersHorizontal Balance Efficient allocation of scarce resources among urgent issues • Economic growth, employment • International Competitiveness • Energy/food security • Health care, pension • Millennium Development Goals, in particular for least developing countries

  19. Efficient allocation of resources • Copenhagen Consensus (2004 and 2008) • Sachs criticized that the outcome --was based on wrong question, wrong participants, and wrong conclusions. But he admitted “the core concept of the Copenhagen Consensus is a good one” but needed improvement in several points • Summers commented that “the greatest acts of statesmanship --- have been motivated by a concern for posterity not by benefit-cost analyses”. But he still pays serious attention on the efficient allocation of scarce resources. • Azar pointed out four inherent shortcomings with respect to CBA but said “this does not mean that cost-benefit optimization models cannot and should not play any role in climate change policies”. • Democracy and policy makers

  20. In search of effective and feasible international framework – A Balanced Approach • Review of 2 degree target taking into consideration of adaptation • Pledge and review of each country’ target • Difference of circumstances taken into account (especially developing countries) • Ensure comparability of efforts among developed countries • Review of classification of Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 • Integrated approach (not only mitigation but also adaptation, technology transfer and funding) • Mobilization of all policies (sectoral approach, removal of subsidies, promotion of trade/investment, green growth) Need economic development to cope with climate change

  21. “Better a strong weak agreement that has a good chance of being honored than a weak strong agreement that is likely to collapse” The Economist, November 29, 1997

  22. Models for the Development of ALPS Quantitative Scenarios 22

  23. Assessed Indicator (Preliminary) 23

  24. Correlations among ALPS Core Scenarios 24 3PD: 450ppmCO2e, 3.5PD: 550ppmCO2e, 4.5: 600-700ppmCO2e, 6: 700-850ppmCO2e Note) ◎: strong correlation, ○: correlation, △: weak correlation, ×: little correlation These correlations are evaluated subjectively on the basis of difficulties to achieve each stabilization level in macro-level and socio-economic scenarios (Scenario A and B) and Social scenarios for climate policy background (Scenario I, II and III), and therefore, these correlations are not projections. ALPS: ALternative Pathways toward Sustainable development and climate stabilization; FY2007-2011(on going)

More Related